Circuit-opener.



U. O. BADEAU; GIROUIT OPENER. APPLICATION FILED AYE. 27,1905.

Patented N0v..29; 1910.

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OIBOUIT OPENER.

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976,838. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE. l

CHARLES C. BADEAU, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SWITCHBOARDEQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN-SYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT-OPENER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. BADEAU, of Swissvale, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new anduseful Circuit-Opener, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sideelevation, partly in sec tion, illustrating a circuit opener, e1nbodyingmy invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is alongitudinal, vertical sectional view; Fig. 4 is an end view viewed fromthe right-hand of Fig. 1; Fig, 5 is an end view viewed from theleft-hand end of Fig. l; and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view throughthe coil.

' In all of these views, the circuit opener is shown in its closedposition.

My invention relates to that class of cir cuit openers that are providedwit-h contact members, and a handle for opening and closing the contact.It may also be provided with means for automatically breaking thecircuit, whenever the circuit becomes overcharged.

It consists in devices for lessening the friction, for making a moreperfect contact, and for lessening the danger of injury to the contactmembers.

I will now describe my invention so that others skilled in the art towhich it appertains may manufactureand use the same.

In the drawings 2 represents the base of the apparatus which may beformed of porcelain, or other suitable material; bolted to thebase-plate 2 is a frame 3. Pivoted to the frame is the movable Contactmember 4, which is in electrical communication with the coil 12, and isprovided with a carbon shunt contact piece 5, which is fixed to the endof the movable member. The movable contact member 4 is also providedwith a main Contact face 6. The carbon Contact piece 5, is so arrangedthat when the a paratus is in its closed position, it shal make contactwith the stationary spring carbon shunt contact member 7, and thecontact face 6 shall also make Contact with the stationary laminatedmain contact 8. The carbons 5 and 7 are secured to their supports bypins 26 which extend through openn ings in the carbon and by screws orbolts 27 passing through the supports and through Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed April 27, 1905,.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

serial No. 257,783.

the carbon to the pins 26. This removes ail metal from the faces of thecarbons. These contact pieces 7 and 8 are at their bases bolted togetherand to the base 2 by the bolt 9 which forms one terminal a, of thecircuit. The portion of this bolt 9 that passes through the laminee isthreaded, the threads serving to make a mechanical connect-ion be* tweenthe bolt and approximately each lamination of the laminae, theselaminations being, of course, threaded to correspond with the thread ofthe bolt. l/Vrapped around a Suitable spool 11 is a coil of wire orribbon 12, whose c-onvolutions are insulated from each other and one endof which is secured to the base 2, by the bolt 13, which bolt forms thesecond terminal b of the oircuit. The other end of the ribbon is fixedto the spool ll. This coil is resilient, and as, the spool 11 is fixedto the pivoted movable contact member 4, the resiliency of the coilserves to normally keep this movable member in its retracted or openposition. Extending through the center of the spool 11 is the core 14,which together with the coil forms an electromagnet. This core 14extends out bevond the sides of the frame 3. Pivoted to the frame 3 isthe armature 15, which is of yoke form, having arms adapted to beattracted by the extending portions of the core 14. This yoke 15 isprovided with an adjustable stop 1G, adapted to come in contact with theframe 3, and limit the backward movement of the armature. The lowerportion of the yoke is weighted or made suiiiciently heavy to cause thearms of the armature to lie normally away from core 14. By adjusting thestop 16, this distance may be so regulated that a predetermined loadwill energize the magnet sufficiently to attract the armature.

Pivoted to the base of the movable mem ber 4, below its pivotal point,is the operating handle 10, which is extended beyond its pivotal pointand is there forked and provided with cheeks 18, having enlargedopenings or bearings 19, for the trunnions 20, of the friction roller21. Within the frame 3, and secured to the base 2, is an incline 22, aseat 23, and a stop 24. When the handle 10 is pulled down, the roller 21travels up the incline 22, and against the stop 24, where it seatsitself upon the seat 23. This movement raises the lower end of themovable member 4, and causes the contacts 5 and 6 to come 1n contactwith the fixed contacts 7 and 8. The stationary main contact member 8 isformed of laminas of copper or other suitable conducting material havingsuflicient resiliency to give under the pressure of the movable contactface 6. The laminas of which this contact is formed are all of the samelength, are bent at substantially a right angle to form a base orsupport 0, and

extend upwardly therefrom on a curved line each lamina extending from.the support or base c on a higher plane than the preceding lamina; attheir outerend they are again bent at substantially a right angle toform 4short ridges CZ, whichv are separated from ency and a more perfectcontact surface.-

These laminas taper from their base toward their ends', and at a shortdistance from their ends increase to their full width, as is shown inthe drawings. This tapering of the body and enlargement at the endsserves to more evenly distribute t-he strain of the contact on thelaminas, and to lessen the danger of injury to the elasticity of themember.

The operation is as follows: Vhen it is desired to close the circuit thehandle 17 is pulled down until the roller 21 seats itself against thestop 24 and on the seat 23, and the contacts 5-7 and 6 8 are broughttogether. The circuit is opened by a push upward on the handle 10,suiiicient to unseat the roller 2l, when the resiliency of the spring 12will then cause the movable member 4 to fly back. Should there be anoverload on the circuit, the magnet being sullciently energized, willcause the inner ends of the armature to move downwardly and the outerends upwardly, and so strike the handle 10 as to unseat theroller 21,from its seat 28 and break the circuit.

The advantages of my invention result from the simplicity of theapparatus and from the combination of parts which results in easy, rapidaction; even contact between the contact pieces and freedomA fromliability of injury/ to the mechanism and contact faces.

Although I have shown the circuit opener provided with 'an automatictripping device, I do not desire to limit myself thereto.

Having thus'y described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is- 1. In a cirgcuit opener, the combination of afixed Contact member, a movable member, an operatingl` member, a rollerloosely journaled in an [enlarged bearing in the Operating member', anda seat adapted to hold the roller.

2. In a Ycircuit opener, the combination of a fixed Contact member, amovable contact member, a resilient, electro-magnet coil, the core ofsaid coil extending through the same, and beyond the sides thereof, andconstituting together with the coil, an electro-magnet, and` a pivotedarmature Within the magnetic field of the magnet and capable of en-Uagement with the core, and means actuated by the movement of thepivoted armature to release the movable member whenever the condition ofthe circuit becomes abnormal.

3. In a circuit opener, the combination of a fixed Contact member, amovable contact member, an operating member pivoted to the movablecontact member, a roller journaled in the operating member and a seatadapted to hold the roller.

In testimony whereof', I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES o. BADEAU.

Witnesses:

' GEO. B. BLEMING,

JAMES K. BAKEWELL.

